Thursday, April 26, 2018

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.

But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

What could go wrong?

With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.

And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?

Jenn Bennet does it again!

You know a book is ~*GOOD*~ when you keep telling yourself, "one more chapter, then bed...one more chapter then bed..." but soon enough you've forgotten all about sleep and you've been transported into a tent under giant sequoia trees; that's this book y'all!

I never thought that camping could seem so darn appealing, yet, Starry Eyes made me want to hike 10 miles into the middle of nowhere and set up camp! The only problem is....I don't have a shaggy-haired, sassy guide to teach me the ropes. Drat.

Dudes. Lennon is so damn cute. He's a total nerd/camping expert/smart-ass/ reptile aficionado. Oh, and he's an amazing kisser. Plus, did I mention his voice!? Damn y'all. {Please refer to THIS for evidence of the aforementioned vocal box.} Also he's the sweetest!? And he's emotionally complex!? AND BOY TEARS HAPPEN, GUISE. *wraps him in a cocoon of love and sugar dust * Plus, his moms run a boutique sex shop—so—there's that. Butt plug jokes are made. Dildos galore. LOTS OF LAUGHS, OKAY!

Then we have Zorie. Star-gazin', funky glasses wearin', cutie-pie, sassafrasZorie. She is all about being in control and knowing how and why and when things are going to happen. That poor girl has some major upsets throughout the book. She has to deal with bitchy, not to mention, ditchy friends, a sexy sorta kinda Ex, and a super douche dad. Talk about jostled plans.

But thank goodness that her plans get EFFED THE EFF UP because Zorie and Lennon's banter is off the charts. They are too adorbs for words. GOALS TO THE MAX. I need more of them, sooo i think another entire novel should do it. :P

If you're looking for a swoony adventure, look no further than Starry Eyes!

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: when the prince who will be king comes of age, he must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.

When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon or what horrors she faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome prince, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny of sitting on a throne beside him. It’s all like a dream, like something from a fairy tale.

As Ama follows Emory to the kingdom of Harding, however, she discovers that not all is as it seems. There is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows—and the greatest threats are not behind her, but around her, and closing in.

THIS IS THE FAIRYTALE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! How amazing does this sound?!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"She's wrong," Lennon says in a dismissive voice that's so scratchy and deep, it sounds as though he's speaking from inside a deep, dark well. That's the other thing about Lennon that drives me nuts. He doesn't just have a good voice; he has an attractive voice. It's big and confident and rich, and entirely too sexy for comfort. He sounds like a villainous voice-over actor or some kind of satanic radio announcer. It makes goose bumps race over my skin, and I resent that he still has that effect on me.

Monday, April 23, 2018

The autumn morning after sixteen-year-old Audrey Harper loses her virginity, she wakes to a loud, persistent knocking at her front door. Waiting for her are two firemen, there to let her know that the moment she's been dreading has arrived: the enormous wildfire sweeping through Orange County, California, is now dangerously close to her idyllic gated community of Coto de Caza, and it's time to evacuate.

Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, as Audrey wrestles with the possibility of losing her family home, she also recalls her early, easy summer days with Brooks, the charming, passionate, but troubled volunteer firefighter who enchants Audrey--and who is just as enthralled by her. But as secrets from Brooks's dark past come to light, Audrey can't help but wonder if there's danger in the pull she feels--both toward this boy, and toward the fire burning in the distance.~Goodreads

The Characters: The main character, Audrey, is an incredibly fleshed out, complex, and driven individual. Audrey throws herself fully into anything and everything she does; this isn't clearerthen when she meets Brooks. He is the epitome of the YA bad boy. I was just as enamored with him as Audrey was. Yet, he has some pretty heavy baggage and emotional trauma, yowzerz. Brooks and Audrey's relationship is intense, sexy, and scary.

I also adored Audrey's relationship with her little sister, Maya. Their interactions show how big and caring Audrey's heart is. Sisterhood at its finest with silliness and sassiness.

The timeline: Nothing Left to Burn takes place over a 24hour period with flashbacks interspersed. Let me just say, I loved it. It really added a unique element to the overall plot and pacing. The story felt rushed in an exhilarating way (if that EVEN MAKES SESNSE!?)I sped through this book just as fast as Brooks sped his Audi all over town. ;)

The danger:Can we just acknowledge how effin' scary and consuming and damaging fire is? So super frightening. OH MY GOD, Y'ALL. I'm just getting the parallel between THE FIRE THAT SWEEPS THROUGH AUDREY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH BROOKS. Mind blow. This book you guise! Gah!

Nothing Left to Burn was a fast-paced, emotionally charged page turner. I definitely recommend you check it out!

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.~Goodreads

EXCERPT

“I saw him. I saw Iri.”

He wrapped the torn cloth around my arm, tying it tight.

“What are you talking about?”

I pushed his hands from me, crying. “Listen to me! Iri was

here! I saw him!”

His hands finally stilled, confusion lighting in his eyes. “I

was fighting a man. He was about to . . .” I shuddered,

remembering how close to death I’d come—closer than I’d

ever been. “Iri came out of the fog and saved me. He was with

the Riki.” I stood, taking his hand and pulling him toward

the tree line. “We have to find him!”

But my father stood like a stone tucked into the earth. His

face turned up toward the sky, his eyes blinking against the

sunlight.

“Do you hear me? Iri’s alive!” I shouted, holding my arm

against my body to calm the violent throbbing around the

gash.

His eyes landed on me again, tears gathered at the cor-

ners like little white flames. “Sigr. He sent Iri’s soul to save

you, Eelyn.”

“What? No.”

“Iri’s made it to Sólbjǫrg.” His words were frightening and

delicate, betraying a tenderness my father never showed. He

stepped forward, looking down into my eyes with a smile.

“Sigr has favored you, Eelyn.”

Mýra stood behind him, her green eyes wide beneath her

unraveling auburn braids.

“But—” I choked. “I saw him.”

“You did.” A single tear rolled down my father’s rough

cheek and disappeared into his beard. He pulled me into

him, wrapping his arms around me, and I closed my eyes,

the pain in my arm so great now that I could hardly feel my

hand.

I blinked, trying to understand. I had seen him. He was

there.

“We will make a sacrifice tonight.” He let me go before he

pressed his hands to my face again. “I don’t think I’ve ever

heard you scream for me like that. You scared me, sváss.” A

laugh was buried deep in his chest.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I just . . . I thought . . .”

He waited for me to meet his eyes again. “His soul is at

peace. Your brother saved your life today. Be happy.” He

clapped a hand against my good arm, nearly knocking me

down.

I wiped at my wet cheeks with the palm of my hand, turn-

ing from the faces that were still watching me. There were

very few times I’d cried in front of my clansmen. It made me

feel small. Weak, like the early winter grass beneath our

boots.

I sniffed back the tears, piecing my face back together as

my father nodded in approval. It was what he had taught

me—to be strong. To steel myself. He turned back to the

field, getting to work, and I followed with Mýra, trying to

smooth my ragged breath. To hush the waves crashing in my

head. We walked toward our camp, collecting the weapons of

fallen Aska warriors along the way. I watched my father

from the corner of my eye, still unable to shake Iri’s face from

my mind.

My feet stopped at the edge of a puddle and I looked at

my reflection. Dirt spattered across my angled face and neck.

Blood dried in long, golden braids. Eyes a frozen blue, like

Iri’s. I sucked in a breath, looking up to the thin white clouds

brushed across the sky to keep another tear from falling.

“Here,” Mýra called to me from where she was crouched

over an Aska woman. She was lying on her side, eyes open

and arms extended like she was reaching for us.

I carefully unbuckled her belt and scabbard, piling them

with the others before I started on the armor vest. “Did you

know her?”

“A little.” Mýra reached down to close the woman’s eyes

with her fingertips. She gently brushed the hair back from

her face before she began, the words coming softly. “Aska,

you have reached your journey’s end.”

In the next breath, I joined with her, saying the ritual

words we knew by heart. “We ask Sigr to accept your soul

into Sólbjǫrg, where the long line of our people hold torches

on the shadowed path.”

My voice faded, letting Mýra speak first. “Take my love to

my father and my sister. Ask them to keep watch for me. Tell

them my soul follows behind you.”

I closed my eyes as the prayer found a familiar place on

my tongue. “Take my love to my mother and my brother. Ask

them to keep watch for me. Tell them my soul follows behind

you.”

I swallowed down the lump in my throat before I opened

my eyes and looked down into the woman’s peaceful face one

more time. I hadn’t been able to say the words over Iri’s body

the way I had when my mother died, but Sigr had taken him

anyway.

“Have you ever seen something like that before?” I whis-

pered. “Something that wasn’t real?”

Mýra blinked. “It was real. Iri’s soul is real.”

“But he was older—a man. He spoke to me. He touched

me, Mýra.”

She stood, shifting an armful of axes up onto her shoul-

der. “I was there that day, Eelyn. Iri died. I saw it with my

own eyes. That was real.” It was the same battle that took

Mýra’s sister. We’d been friends before that day, but we hadn’t

really needed each other until then.

I remembered it so clearly—the picture of him like a re-

flection on ice. Iri’s lifeless body at the bottom of the trench.

Lying across the perfect white snow, blood seeping out

around him in a melted pool. I could still see his blond hair

fanned out around his head, his empty eyes wide open and

staring into nothing.

“I know.”

Mýra reached up, squeezing my shoulder. “Then you

know it wasn’t Iri—not his flesh.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. I prayed for Iri’s soul every

day. If Sigr had sent him to protect me, he really was in

Sólbjǫrg—our people’s final sunset. “I knew he would make

it.” I breathed through the tightness in my throat.

“We all did.” A small smile lifted on her lips.

I looked back down to the woman lying between us. We

would leave her as she was—as she died—with honor. Like

we did with all our fallen warriors.

Like we’d left Iri.

“Was he as handsome as he was before?” Mýra’s smile

turned wry as her eyes flickered back up to meet mine.

“He was beautiful,” I whispered.

About the Author:

Adrienne Young is a born and bred Texan turned California girl. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun. Instagram |Twitter| Website

Sunday, April 1, 2018

PRIVATE POLICY INFORMATION

If you contact Brooke-Reports for a review request: I keep your email on file until I make a accept/decline decision - usually within 5-7 business days.

In the event I decline your request - the email is deleted and no information is stored.

If I accept your request - your email remains on file until our transaction (a review or what ever we have agreed to) is complete - then deleted.

Giveaways:

1. No Purchase Necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law.

2. Entrants must be at least 13 years old, as I am legally prohibited from collecting personal information from children 12 and under.

3. Winners will be contacted by email using the address provided and must respond within 48 hours or I reserve the right to pick another winner.

4. I use USPS Media mail or Amazon Prime for shipping to U.S. winners - The Book Depository for International winners. I will send you proof of mailing - but I am not responsible for replacing lost or damaged items.

5. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries. I use either Rafflecopter or Random. org to choose a winner

6. By entering a giveaway, you a) agree to these rules and my privacy policy and b) certify that you are 13 years or older and reside in a state/country where the giveaway is legal.

7. By entering and/or accepting a prize, you a) agree that unless stated otherwise, the prize is a secondhand book with little to no retail value and b) agree that you will hold me, the book's author and the book's publisher harmless in the event that your entry or the prize negatively impacts you in any way.

8. Duplicate entries and/or entries that do not follow giveaway rules will be deleted or disqualified. Only one set of entries per person/ISP address.

Rules may be modified as necessary.

Personal information collected and how it's used for giveaways:

Any personal information collected on this blog by myself is used for giveaway purposes only. I will not sell or share your information except in a manner that allows your prize to be delivered. *For example - I will have to give Amazon or TBD your address in order to send you a book.

I delete all personal information collected after 5 weeks or until you inform me that you have received your book/prize and our transaction is complete. Whichever comes first.

Whenever possible I use either Google Docs or Rafflecopter to minimize making your information public. For those giveaways that require you to leave personal information, such as an email, in the comments area I cannot guard against others collecting your information so use caution when leaving personal information in the comments section.

Cookies are a small text file that a website asks your browser to store on your computer or mobile device to provide a better user experience.

They are used to identify a user, remember preferences and help users from having to re-enter information and are used for tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics.

As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. However, you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers

Google Analytics

Like most bloggers, I use Google Analytics to evaluate blog traffic and obtain blog stats.

Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google").

The information generated by the cookie about your use of our website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of our website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. Further information about Google’s privacy policy may be obtained from http://www.google.com/privacy.html.

About Me

I'm an Avid Reader & Full Fledged Fangirl. I love to be silly, drool over boys (fictional AND non-fictional!), eat hot pockets and tweet! Have any questions or wanna squee about some stuff? Feel free to contact me! :)